Problems with CF card on IBM z50...

[AzNCoMpUtAnErD]

I recenly brought my z50 with me travelling, and I ran into a number of problems with it during the trip.

1. AOL Mail seemed to have crashed, and every time I opened it, it had a "Fatal Application Error" and was forced to close.

2. My CF card would no longer recognize MP3 files and play them in Windows Media Player. Overall, it went sooo random. Sometimes it would read files, sometimes it wouldn't. Finally, I just deleted everything on it, then I tried to format it with the z50, but it wouldn't work. I have a Visor with CF module, so I formatted it using the Visor software, but now it doesn't work all together in the z50. It'll pick it up and show it in My Computer, but I can't save anything to it, or open anything (I used my CF writer on my computer to put some files on it.)

Anyone know a solution? Maybe a hard reset...? But I'm not sure how to do that...I know how to reset it, but how do I completely erase the RAM? Thanks in advance...

[Placonto]

Hello..first thing..if you ever get your unit working again.

I might suggest to you to dump aol and use ATT Global Net for the road. It has its own dialer program for the z50 and cost $5 mo. It works great!

If your interested in a hard reset... A hard reset consists taking the batteries including the backup batteries. I would try soft reset and then trying to format CF again using the z50.

Also check your storage memory. For me..sometimes when my storage mem starts getting to the limit. I have found sometimes my z50 tends to be slow and hangs and crashes.

I hope this helps.

[terramir]

Hey I just got a workpad Z50 myself and I'm having the hardest time too getting the flash cards to work! I've tried installing that driver but still no dice! Somehow it scrambles the heck out of them constantly asks me if I want errors to be fixed and when they show up they have a fraction of the capacity like there full with nothing.
also everytime I start-up without the power supply it asks me if I want to use it on battery power :s I'm utterly confused here.
and in what sort of fashion should I format the cards FAT 16 or FAT 32 and what block size? I got one 256 mb and one 128 meg card, also MP3's how is that possible where do I download a player that works on the workpad?
Let me know what is the procedure with the flash cards

[radams36]

There is a media player downloadable from Microsoft's web site that will work on the IBMZ50, although it is not specified for the machine. I've never used it, so I'm not sure which one it is, but I believe the Z50 uses a MIPS processor, so that should narrow it down. It does play MP3's.

There is also a commercial product from Utopiasoft called Hum that also plays MP3's.

Ciao,

Richard

[kpduty]

Neither of you commented on what brand CF card you are using.

Both my Viking and Sandisk were plug and play on my Z50, no formatting necessary.

I don't know anything about the Visor, but assume that the Palm OS file format is not compatible with Windows CE.

www.cnetx.com makes a CF flash utility that runs on the Z50; FlashFormat

When viewing the information window using FlashFormat, here is how my Viking CF card is configured:

FAT TYPE: FAT16
Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Cluster Size: 2 KB
Total Clusters: 62,389 (It's a 128MB CF)
Backup FAT: Yes

Finally, Windows CE is notorious for sometimes NOT recognizing an inserted CF card. To fix this, simply remove the card and re-insert it. It will usually recognize it.

Concerning the warning about using the CF card on battery power: This is normal and is meant to remind the user that the CF device may draw more power, simply answer YES.

Good Luck . . .